Farah Dowling, Saúl Silva, and Ben Harvey were on a mission. Just like the old days. Farah's secretary Callum had gone missing. That would be disquieting at the best of times. At a time like this, with Burned Ones stalking the woods and Bloom asking questions about Rosalind, it was actively alarming. They had to find out what had happened to him.

Someone had tried to access the secret door in her bookcase, but nobody had reached what lay at the end of the secret passage.

Farah reset the spell, a trap laid for anyone who found the door, but they needed to know who it had been. Her missing secretary Callum was the prime suspect, but if it had been him, how had he evaded the trap, and where was he now?

Had he had help getting in through the door? Had he had help getting away?

Time to find out. Ben was at her bookcase, preparing a solution of nettle amalgam in a beaker. He poured the solution into an earthenware censer, sealed the censer, and then lit the flame beneath it. After a moment, mist seeped out of the censer, and near the bookcase, something began to take shape. A huddled, incomplete form that had once been a body.

Callum's face re-formed. His expression was a rictus of pain, his eyes filled with the terror experienced in the moment of his death.

Ah. So Callum hadn't gotten away, after all. "Callum," Farah said heavily. "Yes."

She hadn't loved Callum, but she'd felt responsible for him. As she did for everyone at Alfea.

"He was killed. With magic," said Ben.

Every inch Professor Harvey right now, Ben pulled out a specimen jar half filled with Vessel Stones. He scooped the jar through the image of Callum's dead face, collecting a sample. Then he closed the lid as the remnant of Farah's secretary vanished.

"At least now we know where he went," said Farah.

She and Saúl exchanged a look of grim understanding.

"And that there's a murderer in our school," Saúl said.

Someone in this school had tried to break in, through all Farah's defenses, to the worst secret she'd ever kept. Someone lethal. And not long ago, she'd told Bloom that Rosalind was dead.

They had to find Callum's killer.

SPECIALIST

Riven was pretty sure Beatrix was actually his girlfriend. He'd never had a proper one before, and it was nice. She was in Riven's dorm, wearing one of his T-shirts. They were just hanging out, enjoying each other's company.

While she stared at a picture of the weird changeling Bloom on her phone, but okay! Riven had heard women were mysterious.

"It's your fault for spreading it around that she's a changeling," Beatrix informed him. "She's now the most interesting person at school."

Riven shifted, uncomfortable with guilt. "People will forget in a few more days. They'll move on." "I won't," said Beatrix.

There was an intensity to her comment that wasn't lost on Riven. He just didn't know what it meant.

"Is this like one of those obsession movies where you dye your hair red and take over her life and then, like, wear her skin or something?"

"Don't be disgusting," said Beatrix. "I have much better skin."

Beatrix's hair was currently dark auburn. Riven liked it the way it was. He grinned and decided he didn't care what her hang-up was. She was funny, in exactly the petty and mean but whip-smart way he enjoyed. She was a challenge. He liked her, and he hoped she liked him.

"I guess I'll just have to fight for your attention, then ..."

Riven kissed the back of her neck. She let him, closing her eyes. When he stopped, she sighed.

"No, no. Keep fighting. A little to the left."

Riven kissed her, and wondered why he always had to battle so hard for everything he wanted.

Then again, if he didn't have to fight, would he want it?

FIRE

I crossed the courtyard under a cloud. Literally, in that a cloud hung over the castle, but also figuratively, in that I was under a smoke-dark cloud of suspicion. I was carrying much-needed coffee and breakfast in takeout containers. As I went past knots of chatting students, I heard two fairies gossiping. And I knew the burning-hot topic of gossip was me.

One fairy said, "I'm telling you, she lit her nursery school on fire." The other claimed, "Nope. Softball team. Torched 'em at an away game. Her human parents never stood a chance. Did she kill them both, or just one of them?"

"Neither," I said loudly.

When they turned, cringing, I smiled. They cringed more. I told them, "So I'm due for a murder or two."

Then I spun on my heel, and took the coffees up to Ms. Dowling's office. Actually, just outside Ms. Dowling's office. Aisha was filling in for Ms. Dowling's secretary, Callum, while he was away.

While she was there, I'd asked her to do one little thing for me.

I sat down across the desk from her, laying down coffee and breakfast offerings. "You haven't found anything?"

Aisha was almost hidden by stacks of paper files as we drank coffee and ate breakfast from the containers.

"I've only been at Callum's desk for two days, Bloom. Also, kinda doing you a favor, so maybe try being grateful?"

"Come on, you didn't take Callum's job for my sake."

"Weird, 'cause I remember you—"

"Making a helpful suggestion—"

"Begging me to volunteer so I could snoop for info on your past," Aisha said.

"That seems like something I might do. But it also seems like you might jump at the chance to earn brownie points with Ms. Dowling." I coughed.

"Suck up."

"Suck up? Really? Suddenly, I've lost the ability to read the files."

"Wait. Did you think I said suck up? Weird. I actually said ..." I coughed again. "Suc-h a good friend? Who is smart and beautiful? Also kind and—"

Aisha's smile as she watched me flounder faded a little.

"Isn't sure she can help," she finished softly. "These records here only seem to go back to Ms. Dowling's start as headmistress. Everything else must be archived somewhere."

"Or shredded because Dowling loves withholding information."

Aisha shot me a look. Perhaps I hadn't done a good job hiding my bitterness on the Dowling front.

"Even if I knew just a little more about Alfea back then, I could piece together why Rosalind put me in the First World—"

Aisha sighed. "I'll keep looking, promise. I have to read every file in this place, anyway. Don't know who taught Callum how to run an office, but he was terrible at it. And I can't even call him to ask questions." "Why not?" I demanded.

Aisha sounded doubtful. "He apparently left for a family emergency. Dowling doesn't want to bother him with 'trivial nonsense.' " She turned to her breakfast. "Thank you for this, by the way. I mean, since you're using me as an excuse not to eat in the canteen, it's the least you could do."

"I'm not avoiding the canteen," I claimed. Aisha just looked at me, and I doubled down. "So everyone's talking about me being a changeling? So what? That's literally the least weird thing about me."

"True. They don't know how bad you snore." Aisha threw me a grin. I tossed a piece of granola at her grinning face just as Musa entered, food in hand. She plopped down immediately on the floor.

"'Sup?" Her eyes glowed briefly. "Is Bloom still pretending she's not upset about the gossip?"

"Are you still pretending you're not dating your roommate's brother?" I shot back.

Aisha stifled a laugh as Terra walked in with her breakfast.

Terra blinked. "Who's pretending what?" She continued, smiling, "I mean, other than Stella pretending she's not dreading being outshined by her mom all day."

"You could enjoy that a little less," Musa pointed out.

"Could I, though? I guess we'll see at the assembly."

As Terra dug into her food, I looked around at my Winx suitemates, who had turned this little office into a cafeteria. For me. It was so kind, but it was going overboard. They'd already done far too much for me.

"I don't need this." I spoke so loudly everybody looked at me. "I don't need you all to change your breakfast plans to eat with me like I'm some weird loser mess. I'm fine."

No one seemed convinced. I scrambled to my feet and walked away, mumbling excuses about potions and papers.

I knew, and they knew, that I was anything but fine.

LIGHT

"It's one day, Stella," said Stella's maybe-still-boyfriend. "Half a day."

Stella sighed. "Half a day of everyone adoring her like she is literally the sun."

"She is the Queen of Light," Sky reminded her, a little wry. A lot charming.

She knew she hadn't been great to Sky lately, but she was sure she could do better and fix what was wrong between them. Stella repaid his effort with a small smile.

"This whole Burned One assembly she's doing ... I know she's really here to check on my progress."

"Did you tell your suitemates you need a buffer? I bet Bloom could use a distraction about now—"

She was tired of hearing Sky talk about Bloom, or wondering if he was thinking about Bloom. Stella knew she'd done Bloom wrong. She was the one who'd spilled that Bloom was a changeling, and she hadn't owned up to it. Guilt wouldn't let her ask if Bloom was all right.

Instead, she blurted out, "I don't need them. I have you."

Then she caught herself, realizing she was doing it again. Leaning on him too much, when she hadn't let him lean on her. But despite the recent past, Sky stepped up to her side, laying a hand on her arm in a comforting gesture. Maybe he didn't know how to stop letting her lean, just like she didn't know how to stop leaning. This was how they'd always been.

"I'm a text away. But you can handle this. You can handle her."

Stella wasn't so sure, but now it was time to find out. Two black SUVs pulled up to the curb. Between them was a pristine black Rolls-Royce.

Sky gave her a reassuring look and walked away.

Alone, Stella took a deep breath and drew herself up so her posture was perfect, just like her mother had taught her. A Solarian royal guard, a bow sheathed on his back, exited one of the SUVs and opened the Rolls's back door.

A five-inch-heeled, red-soled Louboutin emerged from the SUV. Then the body it was attached to.

Queen Luna of Solaria stepped into the sunshine. Stella used to ask, as a child, if she'd be as poised and powerful as her mother when she grew up. Nobody ever answered her. They just seemed embarrassed that Stella didn't realize it would never be possible.

"Stella," said her mother. "You look stunning."

Stella stepped forward, trying to smile bright enough to outshine the sun.

SPECIALIST

Not only did Riven have a girlfriend, he had a gang. He and Beatrix and Dane were hanging out a lot, the three of them.

While Beatrix spun tales about dangerous changelings to an overly credulous Dane.

"Changelings were a way for pissed-off fairies to get revenge on the First World. Swap a fairy for a First World baby. Wait for it to wreak havoc."

"What does wreak havoc even mean?" Dane asked innocently.

Beatrix glanced at Riven. He rolled his eyes at her, but Beatrix smiled and went for it.

"Heard of the Great Fire of London?"

As Beatrix elaborated, sweet gullible Dane was wide-eyed and buying every word of it. He was clearly about to ask for more info when he spotted Terra walking in the direction of the greenhouse. Riven noticed how Dane suddenly went on the alert.

"Changelings are bad news. That's why we stay on their good side," Beatrix finished.

"Or try to, at least ..." said Riven.

Were he and Beatrix trying that hard, though? If Bloom heard how they were discussing her, she'd be within her rights to set their hair on fire. That would be so bad. Beatrix had really pretty hair. And Riven's was even prettier.

Eyes on the greenhouse, Dane mumbled, "I'll see you two at the assembly."

Whatever, Dane. Terra wasn't going to let this go. She hadn't liked Dane that much. And the girl was proud. Dane could just get used to not having Terra in his life and stick with Riven and Beatrix.

Dane rushed off on his hopeless mission.

Riven glanced over at his girlfriend so they could share the joke. "I'm not sure what's more tragic. That he thinks Terra will forgive him for the video or that he believes all that changeling garbage you spoon-fed him."

"It's not all garbage. Changelings can be dangerous. You did everyone a favor—"

He wished Beatrix would quit acting as though it'd been Riven who did all the talking. Yeah, Riven had spread it around, and he was a jerk. But he hadn't been the one pouring poison into Dane's ears about changelings.

But no, it was fine. They were in this together. That was what Beatrix meant.

"Technically, Stella let the cat out of the bag. But the fact that nobody can trace it to either of us is probably a good thing," Riven remarked.

He hadn't known how intense and nasty the gossip would get. The whole castle was buzzing with rumors. Every time Riven glimpsed Bloom, she seemed braced for more bad news.

Sucked to be poor little redheaded Bloom. If she burned down Alfea, Riven wouldn't blame her.

EARTH

Ah, family time. Terra's dad was looking worried about a project, while Sam harassed Terra about whether she was done with her homework or not.

None of your business, Sam!

Terra was still trying to squint at what her father was working on. He had a specimen jar, and inside it were Vessel Stones. He was tipping them surreptitiously into a glass cylinder. If Terra recalled correctly, Vessel

Stones were used to trace magic, so—

Her train of thought was derailed by a knock. The Harveys turned as one to face the door, and beheld Dane. He stood nervously on the greenhouse threshold.

"Hey, Terra," began Dane. "Can we—"

Just then, both her dad and her brother stood up. The ultimate mildmannered professor and Terra's almost terminally laid-back brother, both suddenly looming with their faces turned furiously cold.

Everyone in Alfea had seen Beatrix's story, or heard about it. Everyone knew what Dane had said about Terra.

"While I appreciate that the historical perspective of the patriarchy is that women need to be saved from upsetting situations ..." Terra told them,

"I got this."

She gave them the Stand-down-boys stare, and they sat back down. Still, she was fighting off a smile as she met Dane at the door. Dane didn't matter, not really. Her family did.

Dane looked lost, in the same puppy-dog way that had appealed to her so much at first. "You didn't answer my texts."

"I've been busy."

Dane could barely meet her eyes. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

You've been great to me, and—"

Past the hurt, Terra mostly felt amazement. He thought they could be friends again, after his little mockery and make-out session with Riven and Beatrix? He couldn't possibly think she was this much of a pushover. If he did ...

Boy, had he got her wrong.

"I know I have," she told him. "Because I'm a good person, Dane. I think you are, too. Not sure I care to find out anymore. But a word of advice. Be careful who you trust."

She shut the door in Dane's face.

From behind her, Sam said, "Still kinda want to punch him."

She and her annoying brother didn't often share a smile, but they shared one now. Terra kinda wanted to punch Dane herself.

WATER

What had Aisha got herself into? She couldn't make heads or tails of Callum's paperwork. Callum didn't seem to have been a team player. She was doing this for Bloom, but she wanted to do a good job for Headmistress Dowling as well. Maybe then she'd feel less sneaky, less like she was doing something wrong.

The door opened and the queen walked in. Professor Harvey and Specialist Headmaster Silva were with her, but Queen Luna was the type of person you couldn't look away from. She had far more presence than any picture could convey. She was the most magnetic person Aisha had ever seen.

"Queen Luna, if there's anything you need during your visit—" Aisha offered.

"So sweet, Aisha. But I'm far more low maintenance than you'd imagine."

Wow, the queen knew Aisha's name.

Ms. Dowling entered just then, walking with purpose as she always did.

Aisha admired that, though she wasn't sure she admired Ms. Dowling's attitude to administration.

"Ms. Dowling, I have a few questions about this filing when you have

—"

"If you can't figure it out, then create a new system."

Ms. Dowling's tone was sharp. Aisha winced, feeling as though she must have deserved the reprimand, though she didn't know how. She nodded, and the door closed behind Dowling and Queen Luna.

Aisha took a deep breath, and decided to devote herself to her task. As she turned, she knocked over a stack of files, undoing hours of work. Hours of work she'd undertaken for her roommate, and was Bloom even grateful?

Aisha wanted to scream, so instead she shut the drawer of the filing cabinet too hard. A piece of trim came off.

"Perfect," Aisha muttered, and bent to remedy the situation.

Only the piece of trim hadn't fallen off. It had been cut away to create a secret compartment. There was a metal ring inside the compartment, no bigger than a quarter, and as soon as Aisha reached out and touched it, the ring filled with crackling static.

She held it up to the light. Nothing.

Then Aisha held it up to her ear.

Instantly Queen Luna's voice, sounding totally different and far less warm, snapped out: "Your assistant died here. In your office. You must have a theory about what happened."

FIRE

I was walking through the courtyard, trying to keep my head down while other people failed to keep their voices down, when Aisha ran over to me.

Aisha, not usually excitable, was having a hard time keeping her own voice down.

"Bloom!" she said. "You will not believe what I found in my desk!"

I tensed. "Files?"

"A ring that acts as an eavesdropping device!" Aisha almost yelled. "It must have been Callum's. Queen Luna came into the office—she looks just like Stella, except even more intimidating—and I knocked over some papers. I only meant to put things away. Then I found a metal ring in a desk and I just picked it up and I heard a little static. So I put the ring to my ear. And, I swear this is true, Queen Luna's voice in my ear said, 'Your assistant died here. In your office. You must have a theory about what happened.' " "Wait," I said. "Callum's not visiting family? Callum is dead?"

Aisha and I kept walking, with Aisha in full voluble storytelling mode.

"And Dowling told me he left for a family emergency. So they're—"

Oh, Ms. Dowling was the worst. I couldn't believe I'd ever trusted her. I couldn't believe I'd wanted to.

"Lying. Shocker. So something happened to Callum. What did you do with the listening thing?"

Aisha said, "I put it back."

I stared at my poor, sweet, innocent roommate.

"Don't tell me you're going to just put it away and forget about it."

"That's exactly what I'm going to do. It felt ... wrong."

"Callum clearly didn't agree. What do you think he was after?"

Aisha gave me a meaningful look. "Maybe he had a friend who needed him to spy on Dowling, too?" I ignored the snark.

"Or he was on to one of Dowling's secrets and wanted to know more."

Callum had always been quiet and unobtrusive. If only I'd caught on to something about him before it was too late. Maybe he could've helped me.

He'd been killed in Dowling's office. Who could have done it? The only student I was aware of who kept slipping into Dowling's office was me, and I wasn't the murderer. Though no doubt everyone at Alfea would be ready to believe I was.

As Aisha and I walked, the stares increased in intensity and the buzz of conversation rose. I lowered my voice so other people wouldn't hear Aisha and me talking about murder and sneaking around.

"You're sure she didn't shred those old records ..."

Aisha looked confused by this hard left turn in conversation.

"What?"

"The Alfea records that predate her," I reminded Aisha. "You don't think she destroyed them?"

"Are you kidding? That woman loves paper. I offered to start scanning the files into the computer system, and she looked at me like I had two heads. The records are somewhere."

I stopped walking. That was the moment Aisha visibly registered that a disaster was about to happen.

"Bloom," said Aisha. "The assembly is mandatory."

"Which means everyone is distracted."

"Bloom—"

"I'm not asking you to come," I assured her.

"It's a bad idea!"

"A bad idea is going to that assembly where everyone will stare at me like I'm a freak." I paused, trying to marshal my arguments. "I can't sit around and listen to people make stuff up about me. Especially when I don't know what the truth is myself."

Aisha opened her mouth to object further, and then saw my face.

Perhaps she saw how serious I was.

She sighed. "Fine. You had a terrible migraine. Could barely stand up.

Good?"

I smiled.

FIRE

I had an idea about where to search for the lost records. Where better than the place where they'd stored Rosalind's picture, where they had all the old artifacts of war hidden away?

I made my way back to the abandoned East Wing.

I hadn't expected the East Wing to be eerie, but it was a million times creepier when it was empty of party people and music. Without the blazing bonfires, it was dark in here, and the hallways seemed narrower and more winding. Mazelike. I negotiated cautiously around corners.

I moved toward a door and tried the knob, only to find it unlocked. As good a place to start as any.

I smiled, and pulled the door open.

Then a hand slammed the door shut.

I jolted back, scared out of my mind, and looked up to face someone who didn't seem happy to see me.

"What are you doing in here?" demanded Sky.

SPECIALIST

Riven was making his way to Queen Lunatic's assembly when he saw Beatrix slipping from one shadow to the next with the air of a woman on a mission.

Riven slid up alongside her with a devilish grin. "Where are we going?"

"Look at you, clinger. Mandatory assembly is a mandatory ditch."

For a moment, Riven's good mood faltered. There was a strangely hostile expression on his girlfriend's face, as though she didn't want him around, or was planning to do something nasty to him if he stayed.

She gave him a sexy smile. "So ... you coming or what?"

She pivoted and made for the East Wing, walking fast. That was good thinking. They could have some privacy there.

What a woman! Riven quickly followed.

MIND

Stella sat in the front row, far apart from her Winx suitemates. Two Solarian guards were on either side of her. To look at her, anyone would think Stella was glorying in finally being in her rightful place as princess, but Musa was getting a faint hint of something else. She tried not to pursue it. An assembly was a crowded place. Let someone in, and she'd be overwhelmed.

Dowling, Silva, and Harvey were walking among the students, monitoring their behavior.

Just then, everybody hushed as from the side of the assembly hall, Queen Luna approached. Her eyes glowed, and the lighting shifted into a moody, underwater light tone. A hush immediately came over the room.

Luna looked around.

"That's a bit dramatic, isn't it?" the queen asked, sounding amused.

Her eyes glowed again, and a warm, soft light illuminated her. She took a beat, commanding the stage with ease, grace, and a disarming I'm-justlike-you smile.

Politicians, Musa thought. Luna was clearly good at what she did, but Musa didn't have to use her powers to know not to totally buy the act.

"There we are," Queen Luna declared with satisfaction, and then her melodious voice slipped into storytelling mode. "I always had a love/hate relationship with assemblies when I was at Alfea. Loved getting out of class. Hated getting lectured ..."

Her tone shifted, more serious.

"But I'm not here to lecture. I'm here to treat you like the adults you are. To talk about the Burned Ones."

Musa was sitting with Aisha, Terra, and Sam. Terra and Sam seemed to be getting on pretty well today, which Musa found encouraging.

Less encouraging was the royal fever all around.

"Still can't believe she's Stella's mom," Aisha gushed.

"I know, right?" Terra gushed back. "Massively powerful fairy. Zero ego. Boss goals. I bet it drives Stella crazy."

Next to them, Musa was only half paying attention to the fangirling. She was reading a text from Sam that said: I'm starting to think you're actually into all this sneaking around stuff.

Queen Luna continued her lecture of doom and gloom. "It had been years since the last one was sighted, but recently, as you all know, two have been killed."

Sam leaned his leg into Musa's. She fought a smile, and let her arm brush against his. She caught him smiling, too.

"Musa," said Terra.

Musa snapped out of her hormonal daze and realized that Terra was staring at her.

"What?" Musa's heart raced. Had Terra seen what was happening? Then

—

"What is Stella going through right now? She's miserable, right?"

Musa breathed a sigh of relief. She'd do whatever Terra wanted as long as Terra didn't suspect. She called on her power, chasing the hint of strangeness in Stella's mood ...

"Please wait," she murmured to Terra.

"Every sovereign of this realm has carried the responsibility of defending our land from these creatures. That duty is now mine," intoned Queen Luna.

But as Musa's magic worked, Dowling passed near Stella's seat and pulled Musa's attention to her.

The words popped out of Musa's mouth. "What the hell?"

She watched carefully as Dowling walked around the room. It looked like Dowling was making sure her students were paying attention. But there was an object cupped in her hand, a glass cylinder of some kind. Musa got a read on what Dowling was feeling. Suspicion? But of whom?

Suddenly tense, Musa murmured to the others, "This assembly isn't just about the Burned Ones. Something else is up."

FIRE

Sky quietly went through the treasure trove of Rosalind-related pictures with me. He hadn't said much since I'd explained what I was up to.

"If you're gonna judge," I told him, "kindly join the rest of the student body and do so behind my back."

Sky spoke gently, "No one is judging you."

I scoffed. "I didn't know you were blind. And deaf. You should get that checked."

Sky smiled, in what seemed to be a reflex. Like he was helplessly charmed by me. Charmed by the changeling. And that won him an admission. If there was anyone I could trust with the truth, it was Sky.

"I've tried really hard to play it cool. Let people whisper when I walk by and not constantly scream that they're jerks." I paused. "But the truth? It sucks. A lot."

"People are jerks, Bloom. So maybe you should scream."

His sincerity made my heart almost hurt, as though there was a magnet in my chest wanting to draw me to him. I took a step forward, getting closer. Until Sky stepped away. I felt the loss of his closeness in my chest, too.

"I didn't know this existed," said Sky.

I looked at the photo. Rosalind stood in the center, a majestic general in total command. She was flanked by a younger Dowling, Silva, Terra's dad Professor Harvey, and a handsome man with eyes that reminded me of Sky's.

"Is that your dad?" When Sky nodded, I asked eagerly, "He knew

Rosalind?"

"I knew his commander was a woman, but I'm not honestly sure I ever heard her name."

Because Dowling had suppressed any talk about Rosalind at all. I nodded and stared at the image a beat longer. Rosalind and Sky's dad had the most intense gazes of anyone in that picture. They seemed like a powerful team all by themselves.

"You look like him."

Sky imitated Silva's voice, " 'And act like him and maybe one day if I work hard enough I can be half as good a warrior as he was.' " He dropped the act. "Sorry. Reflex."

"Is it weird feeling like everyone knows your dad more than you do?"

"Probably not as weird as not knowing who he is at all." Sky's voice was soft. "This place. Alfea has been my home my entire life. I can't imagine what you're going through, Bloom. How impossible it must all feel."

I could sense his understanding, and I needed it. So much. More than I should.

Once again I felt that pull in my chest, wanting to be close to him. Not to do anything wrong, but to lean against him. Share strength, share understanding. Share warmth.

"Looks like we aren't the only ones up to no good," murmured Beatrix.

Sky and I both looked up hastily. Beatrix and Riven were standing there, smug as cats who'd just found a whole coal mine full of canaries.

WATER

"Dowling is anxious," Musa murmured to the group.

"I mean," said Aisha. "Her assistant did die."

Aisha was worried, too. This was no time to be irresponsible, yet she'd let Bloom run off again. Dowling was trusting Aisha, by letting her act as her secretary. And Aisha wasn't worthy of that trust.

"But Silva's on high alert, too. Like there could be a threat anywhere.

And ..."

Musa trailed off. And Terra glanced at her, picking up why.

"And my dad?"

"He's scared. Like, über-scared."

Terra looked at her dad measuredly. Then her eyes flicked to Dowling, and the glass cylinder in Dowling's hand. Terra was no fool. She was clearly putting some clues together.

"He was making something earlier," she said slowly. "With the stones they use for the Vessel. It tracks magic. And now Ms. Dowling has ..."

Queen Luna's voice cut across all other voices, the announcement ringing through the room like a bell.

"We're tracking at least five Burned Ones throughout Solaria. The threat is serious. And growing."

A rumble moved through the crowd. The students were suddenly dealing with the gravity of this situation. Aisha wondered if any of them felt like she did. Some part of her had been thinking of Alfea as a game she could excel at, but this wasn't a game at all.

Queen Luna continued, "There is conflict on the horizon. In the past, Alfea was the primary training ground for the fairies and Specialists who fought the Burned Ones. It appears as though it will be again. It's time for all of you to pay attention."

SPECIALIST

This was pretty great, Riven thought. Him and his best girl, his best friend and his best friend's ... it's-complicated changeling pal. They were prowling around the East Wing in search of adventure. They were doing crime, though Riven hadn't actually worked out which crime they were doing yet. It was nice to see Sky skipping assembly and getting a little wild. Riven and Beatrix were teasing Bloom and Sky about their illicit-yet-pure relationship. Riven was happy.

"Oh. An emotional affair," Beatrix mocked the definitely not-yet lovers about their relationship. "That's actually much worse."

Sky's face darkened. That clearly touched a nerve. Riven didn't want their good time ruined, so before Sky could react, Riven pulled at a door across the room. A heavy padlock rattled. The sound caught Beatrix's attention.

"Ooh, love a locked door." Riven lived to entertain.

"What's back here?" Riven inquired. Since they were trespassing, they should make a proper job of it.

"I don't know," Sky said stiffly. "Silva's the only one who has the key."

Bloom slowly walked over to the door, looking intrigued. See, no hard feelings about the changeling gossip. Riven was helping her with her crime.

"So how do we get in?" asked Bloom.

"We don't," said Sky. Buzzkill.

Bloom thought so, too. "What if there is more stuff in there? That's kinda the whole reason I came down here, and—"

"I'll ask Silva next time I see him."

Sky was trying to end the conversation, but Bloom stubbornly eyed the door. It was becoming a battle of wills. Sky, Riven reflected, really didn't know about redheads.

"Sky!" said Bloom.

"The more you say no, the more she wants it. Give in," purred Riven.

"Do we need to have a talk about consent?" Beatrix teased.

Did they need to have a talk about double entendres? Because Riven refused to give them up.

Bloom spun to face Beatrix and Riven.

"What are you two doing here again?" she demanded.

Wow. They were helping! Sky was the one getting in the way.

"Being on your side," responded Beatrix. Which was true: Riven's girlfriend was entirely correct!

"I don't need help from people who post videos mocking my friend!"

Riven winced internally, but refused to do so externally.

"Look, I know the video was extra, but I didn't say anything about Terra. I was a bystander." Beatrix paused, a long, considering pause. "If you're gonna be mad at one of us, think about the douche bag who's been telling everyone you're a changeling."

Sky and Bloom both froze in their tracks. They both looked to Riven.

And suddenly, Riven didn't feel warm, or included, or happy at all.

"Not exactly the way I thought you'd screw me today, Bea," he said, his voice icy. He stormed off, declining to hear what Saint Sky had to say about the situation.

He couldn't bear to hear another word out of Beatrix. He couldn't bear the disappointment on Sky's face. He hadn't known Sky had any expectations of him at all. He strode out onto the grounds, racing under the open sky, wanting nothing but to get away.

"Seriously, you're running from me?" Sky demanded.

Riven responded to the goad. He wheeled around. "Fine. I stand ready to hear what a jerk I am."

"You are," Sky said bluntly, and Riven restrained his instinctive flinch.

"I mean, you have always been one. But ever since ..."

Sky hesitated. Clearly, Saint Sky was worried about hurting Riven's little fee-fees, even though Riven was awful and Sky had apparently always thought so.

"Ever since, what?" Riven encouraged. "Exactly. I can't wait to hear."

"Okay, fine. You have upped your game to new levels since you started shagging Beatrix!"

Riven teased, "You have no idea."

Sky didn't look amused by the joke. And what did they have, if Riven wasn't making Sky laugh? Riven knew that was the only reason Sky kept him around.

"Take something seriously," said Sky.

Riven met his eyes.

"I am," he said furiously. "I like Beatrix. And she's the first person at this damn school who likes me as is."

To Beatrix, he wasn't a project, like he was for Saint Sky. Not ... whatever he'd been to Terra. Not just a crush on a hottie, like he was for Dane. Beatrix had chosen Riven. She went too far sometimes. So did he. It was okay. She hadn't meant it. Riven understood. They got each other.

"And what does that make me?" Sky said quietly.

"The guy who always thinks he's better than me!" Riven waited for Sky to deny it, and knew he wouldn't. "And why are you all up in my face about this? You have a girlfriend. Maybe stop creeping on the first year while you've got the princess dangling."

"That is not what's going on!" Sky snapped.

Riven didn't want to hurt Sky. But he would, because he was awful. Because he was tired of everything being awful when he did it, and perfect when it was Sky.

"Are you sure?" Riven asked. "Because maybe that's what everyone else sees. Stella included. Which, honestly, is probably why she told me

Bloom was a changeling in the first place."

MIND

Musa knew Terra was worried about her dad, and Dowling, and whatever was going on with them. She was worried, too, but it all faded away when Sam was kissing her.

"I wanna do this in public," Sam said softly, kissing her again. She loved it, but she pushed him away.

"And I like that we have a thing that's just ours. It's not just Terra. If the school knows we're a thing, I have to feel everyone's reaction to that. Good or bad, positive or negative."

Sam sighed. "I know you have to feel them, but do you have to care?"

"I wish it were that simple."

Musa wished she could explain how it was for her, how every thought about her was like a wave that could carry her away or drag her under. She didn't know how.

From the way Sam was looking at her, it seemed as though he understood how difficult it was for her to get the words out.

"No offense, but it seems like being an empath ... kinda sucks." "Dating an empath doesn't seem like a walk in the park, either." Musa meant it to be a joke, but it came out sounding too real.

Sam said softly, "Worth it."

He said that now, but Musa knew someday he'd be mad at her. Terra would be mad at her. When people believed you were the girl who knew everything, they expected you to give them everything. But right now, she wanted this for herself.

FIRE

I tried the locked door again while Beatrix idly perused the pictures of Rosalind I'd pulled out.

"So," Beatrix said. "Rosalind. Let me guess. You think she was the one who swapped you out in the First World."

I didn't answer. Beatrix continued to study the pictures.

"She was fierce," commented Beatrix.

That gave me pause.

I said warily, "At the party you told me you didn't know who that was."

Beatrix gave a shrug. "You were cagey about the why, so I was cagey about the who."

"It doesn't matter, anyway. All I've found are dead ends. Except this." I stopped, frustrated, in front of the locked door.

"So let's go in," suggested Beatrix.

"It's locked," I pointed out.

"And you're a Fire Fairy. I've seen you in class, Bloom. I know you're powerful. I guess my question is, how powerful?"

As powerful as I needed to be. I met Beatrix's dark eyes.

"If I wanted to, I could get through this door. Might light the whole school on fire in the process, but power isn't my problem."

Beatrix purred, "Good to know."

My phone buzzed with a text from Sky reading: You still down there? I considered the door, and then considered the text.

"I just don't want to put Sky in a bad spot."

"But you do want answers ..."

What Beatrix's tone insinuated was, Which do you want more, Sky or answers? But of course, I wanted answers. And I couldn't want Sky.

I made a decision. I texted back: Nah. Suite drama. Chat later. When I was done, I looked up.

"I guess I can just fry the hinges?"

Beatrix's face said she was a little impressed by the suggestion. But then, she held up the lock. It was no longer on the door. "Or I could just pick the lock."

That hadn't occurred to me. I guessed I didn't operate on the same bad girl plane as Beatrix, but I thought I could bad girl hang.

"That's much cleaner," I admitted.

We headed through the door together.

LIGHT

A beam of white light was streaming from Stella's hands as she stood in the headmistress's office. She'd practiced this with Dowling a hundred times, but now she had her mother watching. Queen Luna's face was inscrutable. Dowling asked, "What do you want the light to do?"

Stella gathered all her determination and her magic. Then that single beam separated into seven identical strands of white light.

"Remember your intent," Dowling said. "You have control of the light.

It does not control you."

Stella moved her hand, bending the seven strands. The result was the same as putting the light through a prism. The beams formed a perfectly colored rainbow.

"Beautifully done," said Dowling in her grave voice.

Stella felt like she was glowing, even as the light disappeared.

Until her mother said, "Please tell me that was a joke." Queen Luna regarded Dowling coolly. "You instructed her to make a rainbow. To display her power."

This was her mother's private voice and face, very different from the display she'd been putting on all day. Stella wanted to shrink in on herself and disappear.

Dowling said steadily, "We discussed this at the end of last term.

Rehabilitating magic is a process."

The queen snapped, "I didn't send my daughter back to Alfea for a process. I sent her back because you promised to fix her after the incident with Ricki."

The mention of Ricki's name. The way her mother was talking about Stella like she was a broken toy. Both were body blows to Stella, but she tried hard not to act as though she felt the pain.

Dowling said, a thread of steel in her voice, "An incident that occurred because her previous training focused solely on results."

Stella's mother regarded Dowling with icy royal hauteur.

Dowling glanced at Stella, and her tone shifted back to entirely neutral.

"When she's ready, we'll move on to stronger magic. It will take time."

"Shall I recite the list of threats we're facing while you take time?" Queen Luna demanded.

"Mom ..." Stella whispered.

Queen Luna's eyes darted to Stella. Her voice didn't rise as she said to Stella, "Do not speak while I am speaking." She shifted her attention back to Dowling. "Solaria is the strongest realm in the Otherworld. She is its heir, an extension of that strength."

Stella didn't want to argue, but she was fighting for her life. "But what she's doing is working. My power's increased so much—"

Queen Luna said, in harsher tones, "Do not speak while I am speaking!" Stella remembered what she'd done in the clearing, to protect Bloom.

She was proud of that. She could take courage from that.

"I blinded a Burned One," she announced.

Dowling said, "And did it with precision and skill, I might add."

Stella's mother asked, "And you think that is power?"

The queen's eyes flared a sudden scorching yellow. The light seemed to capture the room, and her mother vanished away. Stella turned to see Dowling had vanished as well.

Stella's breath tightened. She closed her eyes. When she opened them, she was no longer in the office, she was now in the dark. All alone. Feeling as small and scared as she had as a child. She knew it wasn't real, but she was still terrified.

She spoke, very quietly. Begging. "Please stop."

She squeezed her eyes shut. Suddenly, thankfully, she was back in the headmistress's office where she felt safe.

Her mother stepped directly in front of Stella. She wasn't a creature made of sunshine any longer. She was a being of ice and fire, dazzling and terribly cold.

"When you control light," said Queen Luna, "you control what people see. And despite what anyone says matters in this life, appearances are everything."

Stella couldn't stop trembling. Her mother whipped around and switched her focus to Dowling.

"You know that better than anyone, Farah. Especially given my efforts to help you maintain appearances."

"Yes, we've both done a great deal to preserve Solaria's reputation," Dowling admitted.

Stella had no idea what that meant, but she could tell there was more between her mother and the headmistress than she had ever realized. Maybe Dowling wasn't on her side. Maybe they were both against her.

"Stella," Dowling said crisply, "you did excellent work. You're dismissed."

Stella stumbled past Aisha as she went out. Aisha was fumbling in her desk for something. Stella could only hope Aisha wouldn't notice how shaken Stella was.

EARTH

Terra caught her dad swearing at the glass cylinder full of Vessel Stones in the greenhouse.

"Did something go wrong with your project? I can help," she offered instantly. "Just—"

"This is not a good time," her father snapped.

Terra recoiled. Her father never spoke to her like that, and she saw the regret on his face at once.

"I'm sorry, love," her dad said, using his you're-my-little-girl voice.

"But I'm okay. Thank you, though." She didn't feel reassured at all.

"If there was something going on, you'd tell me, right?" Terra asked desperately.

"Of course I would," her father told her.

She stared at him, trying to hide her heartbreak. Then she ran back as fast as she could to the Winx suite, where she found Aisha and Musa.

She told them, "He lied to my face. Why are they all lying to us?"

"Maybe they had to. Queen Luna's ..." Aisha looked troubled, as if she knew something they didn't know. "She seems kinda big on secrets." Musa gave Aisha a particularly sharp glance.

Aisha continued, "Whatever's going on, I'm sure they think what they're doing is right."

Musa said grimly, "They always do."

"Then say 'I can't tell you, Terra.' Don't lie to me!"

Terra was on the point of wringing her hands. Musa looked away, as though feeling bad for some reason. Aisha, as usual, tried to problem solve.

"He made Ms. Dowling a concoction with Vessel Stones, right? And the point of Vessel Stones is to read magic, which is what they were doing at the assembly."

They all looked at one another. Doing the math.

Aisha continued, "So, dead body. Worried adults ..." "What if they think a fairy killed Callum?" Musa asked.

Aisha said, "A fairy in that assembly."

The teachers were searching the student body for a murder suspect.

"They were still on edge after," said Musa, and Terra nodded, thinking of her dad fiddling with the cylinder in the greenhouse. "So they clearly didn't find them."

The door banged open and Sky blew into the room, totally interrupting their detective work.

"Is Bloom here?"

Aisha ignored his question and lobbed one of her own. "Did Silva tell you? What was happening today? He must have."

Sky frowned. "Is this the suite drama Bloom was talking about?"

"Uh," said Musa. "There's no suite drama."

Sky frowned. "Okay, I'm so lost right now."

Terra knew how it felt to be lost. Besides, she was done with secrets, and she trusted Sky. He was good to Riven.He'd be good to anyone.

So she spoke up. "Dowling's assistant died, and the faculty thinks a fairy did it, and they were using the assembly to find that fairy, but they didn't because he or she clearly wasn't there, and now we don't believe in or trust literally anyone—"

Sky swore. "Beatrix."

For a moment Terra was simply puzzled. Sky had come here looking for Bloom. What did Riven's cool-nerd girlfriend have to do with Bloom?

FIRE

Inside the no-longer-locked room, there were maps strewn all around. Military relics rested in corners. There were boxes of files. And settled over everything was the dust of a room that hadn't been opened in years.

In the center on the floor was a circle covered with sand, which was just weird.

"I knew Alfea had a military past, but it's still a school. This place? It's like a ... war room," I said, disturbed.

Beatrix did something, I wasn't sure what. Suddenly, the texture of the sand seemed to change, flowing into lines and circles. I looked down to see a map of the Otherworld forming in the center of the room.

"It's not like a war room. It is a war room. A place where powerful, shady people decide who lives and who dies."

I didn't know what to do with that, so I headed for the files. What I needed was solid evidence.

Beatrix just watched as I sifted through boxes. Soon enough I had papers laid out on top of the cabinets. I was putting together a timeline.

"It looks like Rosalind was barely at the school in 2004."

"No duh," said Beatrix. "She was leading the crusade against the

Burned Ones."

"I need to find out where she was in December. That's when I was born."

That seemed to interest Beatrix, though I had no idea why the date of my birth was of any concern to her. I was more occupied by a discovery I'd just made among the boxes.

"I think this might be Rosalind's diary from that year." My phone buzzed again. Then again. And again.

"That's mildly annoying," remarked Beatrix.

I pulled out my phone, half glancing at the messages. Not really seeing them.

"The endless suite group text. I'll deal with it later."

I put my phone on the table and brought the diary to one of the shelves.

Trying to piece things together.

Beatrix's gaze didn't leave my phone as it buzzed again. It must be annoying her.

I tried to get her to focus on the important stuff. "It looks like Rosalind was in a place called Aster Dell."

Beatrix sidled closer to my phone. Just then, it stopped buzzing entirely.

That was great.

I continued, excited, "What if my birth parents weren't students? What if they're from this Aster Dell place?"

Beatrix looked at me, her tone pleasant. "Did you say Aster Dell?"

"Yeah. Can you make that map thing work again? Maybe I can find it."

A smile crept over Beatrix's face. "No need. I actually know where that is. Wanna go?"

I'd wanted answers, but suddenly being offered them made me feel dizzy. "What? Now?"

"It's a few hours from here," tempted Beatrix.

I hesitated, not sure how to respond.

Beatrix pursued, "You ditched the assembly, lied to Sky, and broke into a secret war room. Now you're gonna give up?"

She had a point. But I couldn't help but imagine how appalled Aisha would be if she knew what I was doing. So maybe I shouldn't do it.

"I'm saying it's getting late, and maybe I don't want to ditch school with somebody I barely know."

"You know that I helped you get further than anyone else has. And that

I'm also ditching school with somebody I barely know."

Another fine point well made. But still, I trusted Aisha more than Beatrix, and Aisha's voice in my head said no.

Beatrix's voice, out loud, went soft and insinuating. "But maybe Ms. Dowling will spill her guts now that you found the room she keeps under lock and key. To keep people from knowing things."

I knew Ms. Dowling too well by now. She would keep her secrets.

She'd never tell me anything.

I took a deep breath and a leap of faith. "How do we get there?"

SPECIALIST

Riven was lying on his bed, scrolling through his phone, when Sky barged in demanding to know where Beatrix was. Riven couldn't believe Sky's attitude. What, Sky needed three women now?

"Beatrix is not surgically attached to me. So the answer is, I don't know.

Why do you need her?"

"I'm looking for Bloom!" Sky said. Much too loudly.

Oh my God. C'mon, Sky, Riven wanted to live.

Riven tried to signal Sky to shut up with his eyebrows and also all the force of his mind, but Sky missed it completely and continued his suicidal ranting.

"No one's heard from her, and Beatrix was the last person I know who was with her—"

The bathroom door opened, and Stella stepped out. Riven had tried to signal Sky she was listening!

Stella was a tower of blonde fury. "Seriously? I've sent you, like, twenty texts, and you're running around looking for Bloom?" Looked like it was blinding o'clock!

"Yeah, have fun with this," Riven announced.

Riven tossed Sky an I-told-you-so look as he scrambled up and walked out of the room, closing the door on their drama. He had his own girlfriend to find.

EARTH

Terra marched with Aisha and Musa to the headmistress's office, where they faced down Dowling. And Terra's father.

Aisha, the levelheaded one, explained their suspicions of Beatrix, and how she'd been alone with Bloom in the East Wing.

Terra couldn't believe Dowling was actually trying to maintain her high ground. "And why was Bloom down there?"

"That's what's important to you?" Musa demanded.

"What matters is that Beatrix wasn't at the assembly," Aisha said with quiet force.

Dowling and Harvey shared a look, still keeping tight-lipped. Terra couldn't control herself for a moment longer. Everybody had to stop with the secrets, or someone was going to get hurt.

"Oh my God. We know! That somebody killed Callum. That it was a fairy. And we know you were using the assembly to find out who. So can you just drop this crap?"

Her dad began, "Terra—"

"No! You don't get to shush me. And if something happens to Bloom because you kept this from us ..."

Musa put her hand out and laid it gently on Terra's arm. Aw, that was so nice. Right, they were the Winx Club, and they were going to stick together and solve this. Terra nodded at her sweet roommate and reined it in.

"We haven't heard from Bloom in hours. And nobody's seen Beatrix," Aisha said urgently.

They were interrupted by Mr. Silva bursting through the door, almost vibrating with what was obviously vital news. He checked himself, giving the Winx Club a doubtful look. Terra felt ready to explode with indignation again. No more keeping stuff from them!

But Dowling nodded. "They know."

Silva said crisply, "One of the Queen's guards was knocked out. His

SUV is gone."

Terra exchanged glances with the others, suddenly terrified. Beatrix was knocking out guards and stealing SUVs? Where was she going? Where was she taking Bloom?

Suddenly, Terra didn't feel so sure she and her suitemates could handle this. She felt like a scared kid, wanting to be told everything would be all right.

But not if it was a lie.

"We'll find her," Dowling said, and Terra clung to the authoritative sound of her voice. "I promise."

LIGHT

Stella moved across the room toward Sky. "I need you."

For the first time, the words didn't seem to have any effect on Sky. He looked at her as if he didn't know her and her problems were no concern of his.

"Bloom is missing," he said, as if that was the most important thing in his world. "I don't know if she's in danger or just hiding, but whichever it is, it can probably be traced back to everyone knowing she's a changeling.

Thanks to you."

Guilt slashed through her, and Stella was struck speechless. She had no idea what to say, because there was no good excuse for what she'd done, and Sky clearly wouldn't accept a bad one.

He was always the protector, but now he wasn't protecting her. He saw her as someone others needed to be defended from. If everyone thought about her that way, even Sky, maybe they were right.

Finally, Stella faltered. "I didn't mean to hurt her—"

Sky cut her off. "You tell me you don't want to be like your mother. But all I see is someone who treats other people exactly the way Luna treats you."

It was like a slap in the face. But Sky wasn't finished.

"I'm done with this, Stel," he announced. "Full done. Goodbye."

Sky moved to the door. She kept thinking he would turn around, see how upset she was, relent and put his arms around her, as he always had before. But he walked out, leaving Stella utterly alone.

FIRE

As we pulled up on the bluff, I was still wondering where Beatrix had gotten the SUV. Maybe she'd sweet-talked someone into letting her borrow it.

My wondering was interrupted as I got out of the car and stared around at the wide-open space.

"Aster Dell is a town, right? Are you sure this is the right place?"

Beatrix said, "I'm positive."

We walked a few steps, which was when the entire landscape came into view. We were on top of a steep mountain, with gorse yellow on the granite and the fields so far below they looked fuzzy, like green mist. I was momentarily stunned, but I knew I had to keep investigating. I needed to get a sense of where I was. Had I been born here?

Beatrix headed up the peak, taking a position above me.

"How could a town be marked on a map on the side of a mountain?" I asked.

As I continued my wandering, I stepped on something and it cracked. I looked down at it. Then I knelt to get a better look at what.

It was part of a skull. My stomach hollowed out, sick, as I suddenly realized something else was happening here.

"What the hell is this place?"

Above me, Beatrix's eyes glowed gray. And Beatrix tightened her hands into fists at her sides. Calling on her magic.

I saw the electricity crackling around Beatrix's hands. Beatrix's eyes were glowing ever brighter. And slowly, Beatrix lifted her hands from her sides. Calling up a storm.

"What are you doing?"

"You're not the only powerful fairy at Alfea."

Alarmed, I summoned wisps of flame from my hands. But it was too late. Beatrix raised both hands, and from the clouds, lightning struck.

Directly at me.

The world went brilliant white. I thought that white would be the last thing I ever saw, but then the brilliance dissipated like mist.

Beatrix said, "Welcome to Aster Dell."

I turned, stunned. Where there had been empty mountainside, there was now a settlement in ruins. Everywhere I looked were crumbled walls or sunken roofs, destroyed by some unforgiving force.

Beatrix continued, "It was a beautiful place. Full of people trying to live their lives. Until one winter, when Burned Ones surrounded the settlement. And a military unit from Alfea decided that destroying the creatures was more important than the lives of the innocent people here."

I tottered a few steps toward the ruins. "This isn't real. You're making this happen somehow."

"I'm simply piercing the magic veil that Queen Luna placed to hide the atrocity that happened here. Think about that: The leader of our realm tried to erase a war crime."

Beatrix gazed at me, and I saw more sincerity than I could have ever imagined was possible on that face. Beatrix walked over to me and stared at Aster Dell.

"I was born here. And my family died here. On December 10, 2004.

Two days before your First World birthday."

I realized now why she'd cared about my birth date. "You ... you think my family was killed here."

"Not think," said Beatrix. "Know. Because everyone here died. Except me. And you."

"I don't understand. How could you know that?"

"Because I saw it. Saw the death. The bodies. But someone scooped me up. Carried me away. But I saw them as we ran. Walking through the carnage like conquering heroes."

I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer, but I asked. "Who did you see?"

Beatrix pronounced the names as if passing judgment. "Dowling. Silva.

Harvey."

No. That didn't make sense.

"That's ... you were a baby. How do you know what you saw was real?

That you remember the truth?"

Beatrix said intensely, "Because the woman who saved me used her magic to burn the memory into my mind."

I knew now who Beatrix was talking about. Because the same thing had happened to me.

"Rosalind ..." I whispered. "She rescued you."

"She rescued us," Beatrix corrected. "She had a crisis of conscience. Couldn't bring herself to destroy a village, no matter how many Burned Ones they could kill in the process. But her most trusted allies turned on her. They staged a coup and carried out the mission."

My head was reeling. I couldn't help but think of the first time I ever saw Dowling, surrounded by light. How much hope I had, how much I wanted to trust her.

"I know they've lied to me. But they're not ... monsters."

Beatrix turned to me. I could hear the hatred behind every word she hissed. "Then why are they covering it up?"

I had no answers for that. The magic veil the lightning had struck away slowly began to return, obscuring the settlement, leaving only the mountainside, and the emptiness of devastation and confusion.

I shook my head, and made for the SUV. I wanted to go back to Alfea. I wanted to ask Dowling about all this myself. I still didn't know what to believe, and Beatrix kept pushing me.

"Why would I make up a story about our teachers being murderers?"

Beatrix demanded as we drove. "Where's the gain in that?"

"I don't know. I don't know what to make of any of this. I'm supposed to just trust you? Trust a memory of some dead fairy ..."

I trailed off. If I doubted Beatrix's memory of Rosalind, I had to doubt my own. Then I had no answers at all.

"You shouldn't trust me until I've proven myself trustworthy. That's what the faculty expects. And I'm nothing like them. What you need are answers."

I wanted answers so desperately. Beatrix was saying all the right things, but that was why I didn't trust her offer. She was promising too much.

"From a woman who died and left nothing but cryptic messages and half-truths. We need more," I told her.

Beatrix began to smile, slowly. "And we'll get it. Because Rosalind's alive."

It felt like being struck by lightning all over again.

"Dowling told me she was dead!"

"Dowling imprisoned her." Beatrix looked very pleased with herself.

"I'm at Alfea to break her out."

But before she could tell me anything else, a loud pop interrupted our conversation. The car swerved, startling both of us. Then Beatrix steadied it.

"Do we have a flat?" I asked.

There were three quick, soft sounds outside. One by one, I felt the other three tires go.

"Nope," said Beatrix.

She slammed on the brakes. Both of us looked around, wondering what the hell happened. We both jumped as our eyes found Specialist Headmaster Silva.

He was armed with a bow, standing in the middle of the road. I couldn't help but think of Beatrix's story of him raining down destruction on Aster Dell.

Clearly, Beatrix was thinking the same thing I was. She swore, leaped out of the car, and made a break for it. But Beatrix hardly got more than a few steps before the asphalt road turned to black liquid beneath her, and her legs became tangled in the tar. She was trapped.

Desperate, I looked to her right and found Professor Harvey, his eyes a vivid green. Terra's gentle dad was doing this to a student.

In his hand there was a glass cylinder full of stones. As he drew nearer to Beatrix, the stones inside lit up.

Dowling walked toward Beatrix, face set as though the brilliantly lit stones had confirmed something for her. Beatrix's hands were still free, and I could see her frantically trying to call up her magic.

"Not today," Dowling snapped.

Dowling slapped strangely carved metal bracelets on Beatrix's wrists. Beatrix's lightning crackled for a second, and then disappeared as the metal edges of the bracelets cut into Beatrix's skin like teeth.

Bleeding, struggling, Beatrix called out to Dowling, "What are these things? Why can't I ...? It hurts."

I overcame my frozen horror and scrambled out of the truck, horrified by the pain Beatrix was in.

"Stop it!" I screamed.

I tried to run to Beatrix, but Silva grabbed me from behind. I struggled, but I couldn't break free from his unyielding grip.

Silva, the man Sky loved like a father, panted harshly in my ear, "This doesn't concern you."

EARTH

Terra was standing with Aisha and Musa at the entrance of Alfea with the rest of the students, in an anxious crowd whispering about murder and secrets.

Then the SUV pulled up, and Terra's dad and Bloom climbed out. Bloom, pale and shaken, but safe and well. Terra, Aisha, and Musa dashed forward as one.

Bloom moved sharply away from Terra's dad and into their arms. Terra ignored her father as she hugged Bloom tight, even though she saw the flash of pain on his face as he moved away. He shouldn't have lied to her if he wanted a hug.

Bloom was trembling in Terra's arms.

"We were so worried about you," murmured Aisha.

Musa confirmed, "Legit freaking out."

"What did Beatrix do to you?" Terra demanded.

In a strange tight voice Bloom replied, "She didn't do anything. She's not some monster."

That was surprising for everyone, given the facts. Bloom must not know.

"Bloom," said Terra. "She killed Callum."

"Who told you that?"

Musa blinked. "Dowling. Silva. Harvey."

If the Vessel Stones had lit for Beatrix, it proved she'd killed Callum. Terra expected Bloom to be instantly horrified, but Bloom's face only went more strained.

"They have proof?" she asked.

Aisha's face grew even more worried. "Bloom, why would they say it if it wasn't true?"

"You never know why people really do things," Bloom said distantly.

That made everyone feel lousy, Terra included. All this time, worried sick about Bloom, and she was acting as though Beatrix was her only friend, cruelly ripped away from her.

"Maybe we should just get some rest," Aisha suggested.

Yes! Aisha was so right. Bloom must be in shock. She needed a blanket.

Terra would find a blanket.

Only Bloom's gaze had left them, and was locked on Sky as he approached.

"You guys go," she murmured, and she moved toward Sky, as though they were two magnets snapping together.

Terra cut her eyes politely away from whatever was going on there. She hoped Stella was nowhere nearby to see this. Bloom had enough going on without getting blinded tonight.

Whispers rose from the crowd about murder, and Callum, and Beatrix, and a spy in their midst.

Riven was standing off to the side in the dark, alone and looking utterly gutted. As Beatrix was led away, Terra saw Dane walk up to him.

"What the hell happened?" Dane demanded in a voice gone thin with anguish.

Dane must have really liked Beatrix, Terra thought with a distant pang.

But she was already looking away from Dane, back toward Riven.

Riven's response to Dane's plea was to push Dane away in an explosive fit of anger. She didn't know what he was angry at, but she suspected it was at himself as much as at Beatrix. At everything.

Dane stumbled back, staring at Riven in shock, but Terra thought she understood.

She knew what it was like to be betrayed. By Dane, and by her dad.

Terra could almost feel sorry. Even for Riven.

FIRE

I moved toward Sky, whose handsome face was twisted in distress.

"I'm sorry," he said as soon as I was near. "I left you alone with her. I shouldn't have. She—"

I knew his concern was genuine, but I couldn't bear another round of hearing Beatrix was a monster.

"She didn't kidnap me, Sky. I'm okay. I promise."

I avoided his eyes, but he ducked his head and made me meet his gaze.

Once I did, I felt the first relief I'd experienced since seeing Aster Dell.

"Whatever happened out there ... you can tell me," he said gently.

There was a moment of silence and connection between us. I wanted to open up to him. Maybe I could.

Then out of the corner of my eye I saw Dowling and Silva, leading Beatrix away. I went stiff, and he saw it.

"When you're ready," he assured me. "I'm just happy you're back."

Sky pulled me into a hug, seemingly careless of who saw us. I could feel his relief, like his strong arms, engulfing me. I felt the same. I wanted to cling to him and whisper everything I'd learned in his ear.

Then Silva's voice commanded, "Sky."

And Sky let me go. He headed off toward Silva, the man who commanded his loyalty, and Beatrix, the prisoner who might have the answers I sought. The answers that would lead me home.

MIND

As Musa walked back to the Winx suite with Terra and Aisha, Terra's mood was darkening with every step until Musa felt as though they were under a black cloud indoors. It took Musa about twenty paces to snap.

"Terra," Musa asked desperately, "can you please just let it out? You're killing me right now."

Terra took a deep breath. "My dad lied to me today. Legit lied, and when I called him on it, he tried to act like it was for my own good. They all did."

Aisha, looking troubled, said, "They had good intentions."

Terra's voice was steely. "They can justify it all they want, but you don't lie to people you care about. Not if they matter."

Musa's magic flared with guilt as Terra unintentionally called her out.

And in the moment, it felt like there was only one thing to do.

Musa gulped. "I have to tell you something."

Aisha and Terra halted. Musa didn't dare glance up and see Terra's face.

She only let the words spill out.

"A while ago I met this guy and I like him, like, a lot, but I didn't know how you'd react if I told you, so I didn't tell you, and now it's been weeks and ... I'm dating your brother."

From Aisha, there was only surprise that Musa had fessed up. Musa finally looked at Terra, dreading the onslaught of feelings she was about to experience.

But then Terra laughed out loud. At length.

"Thank you for telling me the truth," Terra said eventually, voice weak from giggling. "I really needed that. Even if you do have horrible taste. Sam is ..."

Musa was starting to feel insulted on her man's behalf.

"Objectively attractive!"

Terra's eyes danced. "The spitting image of my dad at his age. And I think his hair went at eighteen? Maybe nineteen? Bald teenagers. Very cool.

Have fun with that."

All three of them laughed, and for a moment, all their stress was released. Even though, deep down, Musa thought they all sensed that today was only the beginning of something bigger than they could imagine.

Then Musa's eye caught movement, headed away from their suite. She tapped the other girls on their arms as they all turned to look at the guards carrying fancy suitcases.

They ran up to the Winx suite, but Stella's stuff was already gone.

LIGHT

Stella sat quietly in the Rolls-Royce, waiting to leave.

"This school has taken a turn since I attended," her mother observed.

"Back home, I can teach you everything you need to know."

It was more threat than promise. Stella suppressed a shudder. Her whole body yearned back toward the warm familiarity of the Winx suite and the girls she'd been annoyed to be stuck with. She didn't let herself move a muscle.

In a low resentful voice, Stella muttered, "You could've let me say goodbye to my friends."

Her mother sounded calm and amused. The queen, always in control. "They're not your friends, Stella. If they were, they'd be here."

FIRE

I found Dowling at her desk, signing forms. Without looking up, she said,

"Don't lurk."

I hesitated, and then stepped through the doorway of the office.

Dowling stopped her work and looked up.

"May I help you?" she asked politely, as though it was just another ordinary day.

A military team, Beatrix had called Silva and Dowling and Professor

Harvey. A strike force that had destroyed Aster Dell. That was what they'd looked like when they'd brought her down.

I asked a question of my own. "What were those ... bracelets?"

"Runic limiters. They prevent a fairy from using her magic."

"They're barbaric," I said flatly. "They tore her skin open."

Dowling was, obviously, not surprised by this information. Her stoicism was chilling. She didn't betray the slightest sense of guilt. She wasn't backing down, but I wouldn't, either.

"You're certain you're uninjured?" Dowling inquired.

"I'm fine. She didn't hurt me."

"Still, you were with Beatrix for quite a while. What did you two talk about all that time?"

I thought about it a long, hard moment, and then I shrugged.

"Boys. Clothes. Who could drive faster. It was a joyride, Ms. Dowling.

That's all."

Dowling studied me. I couldn't tell if she bought it or not.

At last, she said, "Well, perhaps next time you'll choose your company more wisely."

I held Dowling's gaze and told her, "You can count on it."

SPECIALIST

Sky watched Silva close the cell door on a girl in obvious pain. Who was also a murderer, and might have intended harm to Bloom. He wished he knew what to do. He feared he'd already done wrong.

As he and Silva walked away from Beatrix's jail and down a hallway toward the castle courtyard, Sky said, "After the Specialist party, you told me, 'Stick close to Bloom. We'd like to know more about her.' That's not the same as, 'Bloom may be in danger from a killer.' "

Silva was tight-lipped. Sky tried not to let himself be overcome by frustration, but Silva knew him too well.

"What you're doing is important, Sky. You have to trust me."

"I do," said Sky. "You know I do."

He trusted Silva with his life. That was different from trusting Silva with Bloom's life.

Sky lifted his chin. "But I need to know the whole truth."

"One of the lessons you're at this school to learn is that sometimes a soldier just has to take orders."

Silva's tone lost even the barest hint of softness as he switched to a voice of command.

"So I will reiterate them to you. You are to gain Bloom's trust. Learn everything you can, including what happened on that road trip. And then you are to tell me. That is where your loyalty lies, Sky. To me. To Alfea.

And no one else."